INDIGENT PROGRAMMEAS PART OF POVERTY ALLEVIATION

INDIGENT PROGRAMME AS PART OF POVERTY ALLEVIATION

The City of Tshwane has embarked on a drive to alleviate poverty through its indigent programme. The municipal indigent programme is intended to improve the lives of those who are unable to pay for municipal services and to give them access to free basic services. The programme wasdeveloped as an intervention to soften the impact of poverty and to help people escape the cycle of poverty.

The programme thus resonates with theobjectives of Tshwane Vision 2055, which is to build a city that is liveable, resilient and inclusive, whose citizens enjoy a high quality of life and have access to social and economic freedoms. With the indigent programme, those who qualify will receive free basic municipal services. The ultimate goal of the City of Tshwane is to ensure that the poor rise on the ladder of prosperity and become self-sufficient.

The term “indigent” means “lacking the necessities of life”. The following goods and services areconsidered basic necessities for an individual to survive:

• Sufficient water• Basic sanitation• Refuse removal • Environmental health• Basic energy• Health care• Housing• Food and clothing

Anyone who does not have access to these goods and services is considered indigent.

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The City of Tshwane’s indigent programme is aimed at including those currently excluded from access to basic services, through the provision of a social safety net. The common need of poor people in South Africa is to have access to basic services that will facilitate their productive and healthy engagement in society. This programme is part of the City’s Indigent Policy which is implemented in line with the national government’s call to alleviate poverty.

The programme is offered by the City of Tshwane’s Health and Social Development Department which focuses on creating healthy communities and empowering residents to prosper through holistic develop-ment. The department’s main goal is to ensure that residents have access to an integrated and compre-hensive system of social services and programmes.

Households that are registered as indigent qualify for the following free basic services:

• 12 kilolitres of water per month.

• 100 kWh of electricity per month.

• Dust bin for refuse removal.

• 100% rebate on the value of the property and refuse removal.

• Writing off of arrears accumulated at registration.

• Provision and free connection of an electricity pre-paid meter.

The Municipality will make provision on its annual operating budget to subsidise the tariffs of registered indigent.

APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION PROCESS

• To apply for registration as indigent, households must complete an indigent application form at any designated City of Tshwane (CoT) facility. Documentary proof as required in the application form will have to be submitted with the completed application form.

• The Health and Social Development Department must explain the policy to applicants and make sure that they understand it.

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REGISTRATION CRITERIA: A residential household can only be registered as indigent if it meets all of the following criteria:• Your total monthly household income of all household members does not exceed the joint amount of

two state old-age pensions, excluding any child support grant and foster care grant• The applicant as well as any other members of

the household does not own other fixed property than the one in which they reside.

• You are 18 years or older, except if the child is appointed executorship by a court of law

• You live at the property for which you are apply-ing, unless you are a legal guardian applying on behalf of a child-headed household

• The person or applicant applying should be regis-tered owner or municipal tenant as defined in the policy except when a guardian applies on behalf of a child headed households.

• You are an occupant of property of the North West Housing Corporation or the City of Tshwane

• You have a services account with the City of Tshwane• You are a South African citizen

WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER?Certified copies of the following documents must accompany your application:

• Proof of income, or if you are unemployed, a sworn affidavit to that effect

• Your identity document and those of your spouse and your dependents

• Your latest municipal account and pre-paid electric-ity meter number

• The birth certificates of your children and proof of their school attendance (a school report or a letter from the school)

• Proof of your marital status (marriage certificate, divorce certificate, proof of customary union or living together, or a death certificate, as applicable)

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PROCESS OF REGISTRATION

• The City has localized offices in all the regions of Tshwane where social workers assist community members to apply for registration.

• The applicant is informed about the indigent policy and its provision.• The household is assisted to complete the necessary application form.• The household is then informed of the necessary documentary proof of ones indigent status.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A REGISTERED INDIGENT HOUSEHOLD?

• The registered indigent must accept technical assistance offered by the Municipality to make his or her current monthly consumption of services more affordable through the limiting of those services.

• The applicant must accept the limited level of services and stay in the programme for at least24 months unless assessed and approved for voluntary exit.

• The registered indigent must always ensure that his or her monthly consumption does not exceed the limited level of services in terms of this programme.

• Should the situation of the registered indigent household change, the onus is on the household to inform the CoT immediately.

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• The social worker will after the completion visit the household to confirm the indigent status as per the indigent policy.

• If the family is experiencing any social ills, the social worker will deal with such and refer to other service providers if need be.

• Upon approval the completed application and verification form will be submitted to the Financial Services department for completion of the process.

• The Health and Social Development Department will keep a data base of all registered indigent households.

• The indigent must annually confirm his or her status as an indigent.• Participation in economic development activities initiated by the CoT is compulsory for registered

indigents.• If the Municipality offers a device to control consumption and the registered indigent refuses to

accept it, the suspended debt will be reinstated and the household will be deregistered.• The registered household has a responsibility to report any tampering of or vandalism to the device

to the SAPS or CoT. If the tampering or vandalism is not reported the beneficiary will be heldresponsible.

WHAT ARE THE SOCIAL PACKAGES FOR REGISTERED INDIGENTS?

• The credit control and debt collection actions will be suspended upon approval of a household as indigent; however current monthly accounts must be paid every month.

• Child-headed households will be linked to social, economic and educational services.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

• Affordability of services: The municipality will take reasonable precaution with its means to ensure the minimisation of loss or wastage of services at indigent households by installing a pre-paid type electricity meter free of charge, and installing a programmable monthly flow volume limiting device for water. The Chief Financial Officer of the Municipality will initiate a program, whereby consumers whose monthly consumption of services increases above the average of the pre-determinedquantity, will be notified of this fact in writing to enable the consumer to take the required steps to reduce the consumption either by repairing faulty internal systems or reducing wastage. Thisinformation will be forwarded to the Social Development for re-assessment.

• All indigent households will be de-registered after 24 months. The households must then make contact with the Health and Social Development Department and proof that the household is still indigent.

• Service delivery departments will monitor the consumption of registered indigent households. Ad hoc evaluations will be undertaken on all registered indigent households exceeding the consumption levels.

• Social workers from the Health and Social Development Department will conduct monitoring and impact assessment at the registered indigent households to ensure that the households arereceiving the benefits.

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EXITING THE INDIGENT PROGRAMMERegistration as an indigent household is terminated under the following circumstances:• At the death of the account holder• Upon the sale of the property within 24 months of registration• If the registered indigent no longer resides at the property and upon termination of the rental

agreement• When the criteria for qualifying as indigent changes to the extent that approval no longer applies• If it is discovered, after approval, that the person or applicant applying on behalf of a household has

supplied false information (this will also result in the household’s municipal account being debited with all monies previously credited)

• When the registered indigent moves out of the property on which he or she is residing to another property within the boundary of the Tshwane Municipality

• The status of an indigent will be re-evaluated after 24 months and registration will be terminated if it is found that the financial status of the registered indigent household or family has changed to such an extent that it warrants such termination.

• If the status of a registered indigent changes, he or she may apply to be deregistered. Theapplication for deregistration will be administered by the Social Development Department which will advise the Finance Department accordingly, where after the Public Works and InfrastructureDepartment will be requested to restore full services to the property. This is subject to the condition that the applicant has not already been subjected to the credit control process due to the excessconsumption of services which have either been cut off or limited for that reason.

REREGISTRATION OF INDIGENT HOUSEHOLDS• A household may apply for reregistration provided it meets the indigent registration criteria except

where households were deregistered because they did not honour their responsibilities as stipulated in the indigent policy.

THE PROGRAMME ALSO OFFERS INDIGENT BURIAL/CREMATION ASSISTANCE

Any member or family of a registered indigent can apply for indigent burial/cremation assistance. They will be required to submit the following documents as proof:• Applicant’s identity document (South African green barcoded ID)• The deceased’s identity document (South African green barcoded ID) or birth certificate• The death certificate of the deceased• An affidavit made at the South African Police Service (SAPS) by a family member or relative,

declaring that they cannot afford to bury/cremate the deceased due to a lack of income• A confirmation letter from the ward councillor or PR councillor

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INDIGENT BURIALS/CREMATIONS

• All requests for indigent burials/cremations will be referred to and considered by the Agriculture and Environmental Management Department.

• Burials will be conducted as and when required.• Burial and cremation arrangements will be concluded according to specifications determined by the

Council.• The contracted funeral undertaker will bury the deceased in a cemetery closest to the area of

residence of the deceased, but within the boundaries of the COT.

BURIAL/CREMATION BENEFITS

The benefits/minimal assistance provided by the City of Tshwane for indigent burial/cremation are as follows:

• Transfer of the body from where the person died (within the borders of Tshwane), to the premises of the contractor of the storage.

• All relevant services provided by the medical referee, including the official registration of the death.• Transfer of the body from the contractor’s premises to the deceased’s home and to the cemetery.• To supply the lowering device.• A gazebo and 10 chairs• Date of the burial (during the week)• Supply of a coffin• Supply of a hearse• Supply of a grave • The Municipality will carry the costs relating to the transport to a government mortuary, as well as a

standard coffin, hearse and the cost of the grave. No relative or friend will have any claim whatsoever against the Municipality.

• All relevant services provided by the Medical referee,

PENALTY FOR THOSE WHO MISUSE THE PROGRAMME

The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality has the right to claim back all benefits granted in terms of this policy should it become apparent that registration was based on fraudulent conduct and falseinformation by the applicant. This condition will apply even after the indigent’s status has been terminated.

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SERVICE POINTS/OFFICES

Although centrally managed, the indigent programme has intake offices in all City of Tshwane regions.

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Services Point/Offices Contact number Sammy Marks, The Square Offices, 3rd Floor

012 358 2332/4821

Olievenhoutbosch Community Centre

Social Workers Noma Motau 082 558 9843 Mellecia Mamabolo 078 235 8546

Atteridgeville Municipal Offices, Room E20

012 358 3673/3783 (OFFICE) Social Workers Noma Motau 082 558 9843 Mellecia Mamabolo 078 235 8546 Mosima Machete 083 861 5515

Mamelodi Municipal Offices, Rooms C8 and C12

012 358 0939 (OFFICE) Social Workers Lebogang Maluleke 072 573 5995 Presida Sedutla 072 244 1747 Tshepiso Kgapola 072498 7815

Nellmapius Customer Care Offices

Social Workers Presida Sedutla 072 244 1747 Tshepiso Kgapola 072498 7815 Lebogang Maluleke 072 573 5995

Temba, Hammanskraal Municipal Offices

Social Workers Mildred Ngobeni 082 591 6470 Mmathari Mogotsi 071 682 9181 Lizzie Kgomo 073 321 2565

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Services Point/Offices Contact number Cenbis Offices, Hammanskraal

Social Workers Mildred Ngobeni 082 591 6470 Mmathari Mogotsi 071 682 9181 Lizzie Kgomo 073 321 2565

Extension 2, next to Madiba Primary, Soshanguve

Social Workers Faith Molekwa 083 738 8748 Jeffrey Sebothoma 074 742 6486

Block BB, Bodibeng Library, Soshanguve

Social Workers Nthabiseng Jele 079 300 6499 Violet Poo-Phungwayo 082 601 5718

Speaker’s Office, Municipal Offices Block F, Soshanguve

Social Workers Moipone Hakala 082 447 6660 Lerato Koto 073 475 2120

Customer Care, Zone 5, Ga-Rankuwa Social Workers Lesego Nkashe 076 129 7578 Hilda Tshikane 083 605 8230 Ntombi Masango 072 865 7980

Council Chamber, Room 20, Akasia

Social Workers 012 358 5037 (OFFICE) Hilda Tshikane 083 605 8230 Ntombi Masango 072 865 7980

Revenue Office, Block X, Mabopane

Social Workers Naume Matjene 083 291 0576 Mosibudi Maefala 076 158 0226 Dikeledi Ramphele 083 491 4171

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Services Point/Offices Contact number Beirut Office, Mabopane

Social Workers Naume Matjene 083 291 0576 Mosibudi Maefala 076 158 0226 Dikeledi Ramphele 083 491 4171

Boekenhout Office, next to the Post Office, Mabopane

Social Workers Naume Matjene 083 291 0576 Mosibudi Maefala 076 158 0226 Dikeledi Ramphele 083 491 4171

Zithobeni Multipurpose Community Centre

Community Development Workers Busi Mthimunye 073 983 9225 Poppy Masango 07257204125

Rethabiseng Community Library

April Ntuli (Community Development Worker) 076 635 3830

Ekangala TLC (former Transitional Local Council)

Community Development Workers Tholakele Malaza 072 785 8136 Lindiwe Maseko 082 631 3535 Mavis Msomi 074 903 5448

Dark City Municipal Building

Community Development Workers Busi Nkabinde 072 278 8712 Thabisile Tshidi 072 133 1830

Nkosinathi C. Zulu (Social Worker) 072 8801219

Refilwe Housing Offices

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Services Point/Offices Contact number Beirut Office, Mabopane

Social Workers Naume Matjene 083 291 0576 Mosibudi Maefala 076 158 0226 Dikeledi Ramphele 083 491 4171

Boekenhout Office, next to the Post Office, Mabopane

Social Workers Naume Matjene 083 291 0576 Mosibudi Maefala 076 158 0226 Dikeledi Ramphele 083 491 4171

Zithobeni Multipurpose Community Centre

Community Development Workers Busi Mthimunye 073 983 9225 Poppy Masango 07257204125

Rethabiseng Community Library

April Ntuli (Community Development Worker) 076 635 3830

Ekangala TLC (former Transitional Local Council)

Community Development Workers Tholakele Malaza 072 785 8136 Lindiwe Maseko 082 631 3535 Mavis Msomi 074 903 5448

Dark City Municipal Building

Community Development Workers Busi Nkabinde 072 278 8712 Thabisile Tshidi 072 133 1830

Nkosinathi C. Zulu (Social Worker) 072 8801219

Refilwe Housing Offices For enquiries regarding the indigent programme,

call 012 358 4843/ 2332 orvisit your nearest municipal offices

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Services Point/Offices Contact number Beirut Office, Mabopane

Social Workers Naume Matjene 083 291 0576 Mosibudi Maefala 076 158 0226 Dikeledi Ramphele 083 491 4171

Boekenhout Office, next to the Post Office, Mabopane

Social Workers Naume Matjene 083 291 0576 Mosibudi Maefala 076 158 0226 Dikeledi Ramphele 083 491 4171

Zithobeni Multipurpose Community Centre

Community Development Workers Busi Mthimunye 073 983 9225 Poppy Masango 07257204125

Rethabiseng Community Library

April Ntuli (Community Development Worker) 076 635 3830

Ekangala TLC (former Transitional Local Council)

Community Development Workers Tholakele Malaza 072 785 8136 Lindiwe Maseko 082 631 3535 Mavis Msomi 074 903 5448

Dark City Municipal Building

Community Development Workers Busi Nkabinde 072 278 8712 Thabisile Tshidi 072 133 1830

Nkosinathi C. Zulu (Social Worker) 072 8801219

Refilwe Housing Offices

For enquiries regarding the indigent programme,call 012 358 4843/ 2332 or

visit your nearest municipal offices